Shanachie once again provides the means for a more-or-less inactive vocalist to record an album of covers.

Like Ann Nesby’s In the Spirit, Miki Howard’s Pillow Talk, Vesta’s Distant Lover, and Silk’s Always and Forever, this disc is a set of favorites reinterpreted by someone with a loyal fan base; in this case, a fan base that has likely wondered whether or not to give up on hope for a new album. Deniece Williams’ first disc since 1998’s This Is My Song, Love, Niecy Style has been a long time coming, and it’s a definite pleaser. It’s not just that Williams’ voice remains sweet and lilting, or that the song choices — including Luther Vandross’ “Never Too Much,” Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Love’s Holiday,” Donny Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free,” and Stevie Wonder’s “If You Really Love Me” — are first rate. There’s an impressive list of collaborators, which doesn’t look too dissimilar to the credits of her first several albums. Wonder, George Duke, Philip Bailey, and Bunny Sigler all guest on one or two songs, while Philly soul vet Bobby Eli produces and plays guitar throughout.

Williams and her crew pull off a thematically and stylistically broad range of material, rarely doing much to alter the original arrangements, yet doing so with easy flair.

Title/Composer

Performer

Time

That’s How Heartaches Are Made / Ben Raleigh

Deniece Williams feat: Stevie Wonder

3:24

Love’s Holiday / Maurice White

Deniece Williams feat: Philip Bailey

4:27

This Time I’ll Be Sweeter / Gwen Guthrie / Patrick Grant And The Rising